This randomized clinical trial will examine the effectiveness of a strategy of HIV and Hepatitis Care Coordination (HCC) consisting of testing, education, counseling and vaccination for methadone maintenance patients compared with standard Testing, Education, and Counseling (TEC).

Trained research staff will provide a two-session HIV/hepatitis education class. Participants will also be offered serological testing for hepatitis A, B and C, and HIV (optional), and off-site referrals for vaccination and hepatitis care. The content of the TEC intervention is evidence based. The TEC condition is comparable to screening and education methods commonly used in many drug treatment settings. Those in the TEC intervention group who do not adhere to needed off site vaccinations will be offered on site vaccination 30 days after vaccination referral.

Experimental: Hepatitis Care Coordination (HCC)

Participants will receive on-site HIV and viral hepatitis screening. Hepatitis A and B combination vaccination will be provided on-site. Participants will receive on-site theory-based HIV and hepatitis education, counseling, and 6 months of case management to promote adherence to HIV and HCV evaluation.

Behavioral: Hepatitis Care Coordination (HCC)

HCC Participants will be offered serological testing and counseling for hepatitis A, B and C, and HIV (optional). HCC participants will be offered on-site hepatitis A and B combination vaccination at the methadone clinic. They will also receive a two-session HIV/hepatitis education class with Motivational Interviewing. In addition, participants will receive 6 months of weekly case management to facilitate entry into hepatitis care.

Detailed Description:

In the HCC model, HIV and hepatitis screening, and HAV and HBV vaccination will be done on site and participants receive on site theory-based HIV and hepatitis education, counseling, and case management to promote adherence to HIV and HCV evaluation; in TEC hepatitis screening is done on site, but vaccination and medical care will be provided by off site referral. Primary aims are to assess the impact of the HCC intervention on adherence to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination and attendance at an initial appointment with an HIV and/or HCV care provider. Secondary aims include examining intervention effects on HIV and hepatitis knowledge, risky behaviors, alcohol use; follow-up with later stages of HIV and hepatitis C care; to identify psychological mediators of intervention outcomes; and to estimate the incremental cost of the HCC intervention to facilitate fuller economic evaluations of the intervention if proven effective.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

>=18 years of age

be able to provide informed consent

agree to participate in hepatitis/HIV intervention

expect to be available to participate in the study for the entire duration of the study

HCV negative, of unknown HCV status, or have not received any previous medical care for HCV

Exclusion Criteria:

have already had a formal hepatitis C evaluation

are obtaining medical care for hepatitis C

not interested in obtaining medical care for hepatitis

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00608192